INSTALLING A KIA SPORTAGE BODY LIFT

What you'll need:

Body lift blocks, click here to order a set
A Hi-Lift jack...don't waste your time trying this with a floor jack
20mm deep socket
Various smaller regular sockets
About 4-6 hours of your time

Prep:

Locate the 8 body mounts...
- 1 in front and back of each tire
Optional: spray some penetrating oil on all 8 body mount nuts, let sit overnight

Procedure:

Disconnect negative cable from battery unfasten the power steering container (front just off to the driver side) remove both bumpers.
4 - 12mm nuts hold each one on plus 2 - 10mm by the firewall of the front bumper using the 20mm deep socket, loosen all 8 body mount nuts, removing the bottom nut all the way and leaving the other one just barely on remove the other body mount nut all the way from one side of the vehicle, removing the 1" thick doughnut and washer...
That doughnut won't be used again but the washer will using the hi-lift, jack up the rear corner by the body...
Be careful to find a spot that won't cause noticable body damage...
Lift it high enough that you can slip a body lift block between the bottom of the bolt and the body mount on the frame slip the top doughnut all the way off of the bolt and stick it in the body lift block (it's a perfect fit only if you have it in the right way) to see how it will go on now put the body lift block onto the bolt with the cupped end down...
Put the doughnut on the bolt and into the body lift block how you had it before...
They may stick to the top of the bolt or slide back down...
Just make sure the bolt is in the hole when you lower your vehicle after doing this with both of the rear mounts on that side, lower it (making sure the bolts are going in the holes and everything looks lined up...
It may be a little crooked now but it will straighten out when you're done) now lift up the front on the same side...
You might have to take the nut off the front mounts on the other side, if you do then put a nut part way on on the back mount that you already installed...
Oou have to lift the front really high and it can be nerve wracking, just be sure to check brake lines to make sure they're not tearing apart...
Also remember that I'm not responsible for any damage (insert legal mumbo jumbo here), cars aren't built to be taken off their frame but realistically if you're careful there should be no problems install the front body lift block just like you did in the rear the mount behind the front wheel may be very difficult to get high enough...
What I did was cut a section out of the block (like a 'C'...see picture) so that I only had to lift it high enough to get the doughnut on and off and then just push the block straight on...
This shouldn't cause any stability problems because A: the blocks are very strong, B: all pressure is downward and C: the weight is distributed so well to the other blocks lower the front end and raise the other side of the front end after removing the mount nuts on that side and putting the nuts back on at least the 2 rear mounts of the first side (basically the more mounts with nuts on the better although you could probably get away with having no nuts on the whole time (insert legal mumbo jumbo again)) install the blocks just like on the other side, lower, then do the rear on that side put the big washers on the bottom of the mount bolts and tighten the big nut onto the bolt as tight as you can get it...
Put the small one on too if it will fit you will need to do some modification either to the transfer case shifter or the console around it in order for it to be able to shift into 4wd...
I cut away a section of the console, the black plastic console cover and the inner boot...
You could also have the shifter bent straight (with a torch) or move the whole console back an inch or so. body lift is now complete...
Now either reinstall bumpers (there will be a gap above them unless you drill new holes in the mounts to raise the bumpers) or put on a custom bumper that will soon be available in the club (will post links when appropriate) plug the battery back in and zip-tie the power steering tank up and go buy some bigger tires